If you read yesterday's post about our vintage racing weekend experience with Zenith, continue reading part two of this unbelievable weekend. Now, if you did not read yesterday's post, we advice you to first read part one here. Just as if day one of our vintage racing experience with Zenith wasn't exhilarating enough, wait till you see the last part of our time at the Circuit of the Americas. Could it get any better after what we posted yesterday? Well, it actually does. After a nice evening on Saturday filled with Negronis, Austin's staple Tito's Vodka and a few glasses of champagne, we woke up early morning on Sunday to head to the track for the Hawk Performance Historic GT/GTP Enduro race that was supposed to start at 10:15am. After gearing up with the Zenith El Primero Chronomaster 1969 Tour Auto Limited Edition and our matching red ear muffs, we arrived at the Paddock. Few minutes later, vintage and modern cars were about to start lining up on the pre-grid for the race.
Posts filed under Automobiles
Experience: A Vintage Racing Weekend with Zenith at the Circuit of the Americas. Simply an Unforgettable Experience. Part One of Two.
This past weekend, we were part of a select group of invitees —mainly collectors— invited by Zenith watches to be part of an amazing vintage racing experience at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. The Circuit of the Americas —COTA— is a FIA Formula One grade track with 20 turns, a length of 3.427 miles —5.515 km— and home to the Formula One United States Grand Prix since 2012. Additionally, the circuit also hosts the MOTO GP of the Americas, the Road Racing World Championship, the FIA Endurance Championship and the SVRA U.S. Vintage Racing Championship amongst others. This weekend's experience courtesy of Zenith, was far from average and one that we will hardly ever forget. Being the crazy Formula One fans that we are, setting foot in the actual track, was a long life dream that was about to come true.
Experience: Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupé. Riding Along with a Hublot King Power Unico King Gold.
The Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupé is one of the most technologically advanced and potent Rolls-Royce automobiles. The Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupé just like the Hublot King Power Unico King Gold, is one of those luxury items designed for those that are remarkably bold. Sir Henry Royce —co-founder of the company— once said: "Take the best that exists and make it better", well, Rolls-Royce is always at the forefront pushing the boundaries of design and engineering. With its power, style and class, the Phantom Coupé paired with the striking look of the Hublot King Power Unico King Gold white makes a statement wherever you go.
Inspired by the Phantom II Continental of the 1930s, the Phantom Coupé is a celebration of sporting style and glamour. Fitted with coach doors a.k.a 'suicide doors', the first thing you notice as you open them up is the captivating smell of its fine leather interior and the strikingly glamorous 1,600 individual fiber optics sewn into the headliner to create your very own star-filled sky.
Experience: Ferrari F430 Scuderia and the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph ref. 26470OR Rose Gold. Absolute Perfect Pairing.
What best way to showcase the new Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore ref. 26470OR.OO.A002CR.01 than to feature it along with one of the most amazing supercars out there. We are talking about the Ferrari F430 Scuderia. The new Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore line in 42 mm unveiled at the SIHH 2014 as we presented it to you here, was slightly redesigned 20 years after its launch in 1993. Today, the new Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore features beefier crown guards, ceramic crown and pushers, new dial options, straps with pin buckles and display case backs. Thankfully, the watch didn't lose much of its original essence and Audemars Piguet needs to be congratulated for that. We all know how bad it is when iconic watches get redesigned and they end up being so far from their original designs that they become a completely different timepiece.
Experience: Porsche 991 Carrera S in the Company of a Richard Mille RM015 Le Mans Classic in Red Gold.
Here's one of the most fascinating watch-car combos we've featured in a while —a Richard Mille RM015 Le Mans Classic in red gold in the company of a gorgeous Porsche 991 Carrera S with Carrera Red interiors.
'991' is the internal designation —also the number used by serious Porsche enthusiasts— for the seventh generation of the Porsche 911 unveiled at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show as the replacement for the '997'.
This silver 'beast' is fitted with a horizontally opposed six-cylinder 3.8 liter rear engine that delivers 400 hp that can go from 0-60 mph in just 4.3 seconds. A 'beast' of a car in all senses of the word.
This particular car in GT Silver Metallic color comes with 20-inch Carrera S wheels, a Carrera Red leather interior, a PDK transmission and the sport chrono package. The interior is really gorgeous, spacious and very comfortable. It is a joy to drive this beauty every day.
The Porsche '991' comes with some major improvements when compared to the previous generation '997'. There's a clear enhancement on the quality of the equipment and the overall look of the interior which happens to be roomier than the one in the '997'. While the rear passenger/luggage space is also less tight in the new model, it still really can't fit anyone taller than five feet —only a perfect fit for Santa Claus' elves. Overall, the most visible improvement is the level of refinement and how posh the interior now looks.
While the '991' is not that much faster than its predecessor, it feels faster as it is lighter. Another great improvement is that the level of noise coming into the cabin from the rear tires has been reduced and now the interior sound level is perfect. Additionally, the '991' comes with a standard sport exhaust button that is linked to an acoustic tuner which brings the characteristic flat-six exhaust note into the rear of the cabin.
If you are ready to pay a Sticker Price of $126,440 USD for a Porsche just like the one we have here, make sure you wear that Richard Mille that's been sitting in the safe for months on the day you go pick it up at the dealership.
For more info click here.
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Insider: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept GMT Tourbillon Titanium. Up to Par and Almost as Pricey as a Ferrari F12 Berlinetta.
The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept was first launched in 2002 as ref. 25980AI.OO.0003SU.01 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the launch of the iconic Royal Oak in a limited edition of 150 pieces. That first Royal Oak Concept, was fitted with an ultra rare sculpted-shaped case made of Alacrite 602 with a hardness of 430 vickers and a titanium bezel. The Alacrite 602 is a super-alloy composed of 57% cobalt, 31% chrome, 5% tungsten and the remaining 6% of carbon, silicon and iron.
While the first Royal Oak Concept did feature a tourbillon, it didn't come with a GMT function. Alternatively, it was equipped with a dynamograph, a power reserve indicator showing the number of turns of the barrel and a Kevlar aramid fiber strap.
Experience: 1967 Ferrari 330 GTC with an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 15300ST. A Perfect Combo of the Good Life.
A Ferrari 330 GTC is as iconic in the 'Cavallino Rampante' history as it is the Royal Oak in the history of Audemars Piguet. The Ferrari 330 GTC Berlinetta was introduced at the Geneva Motor Show in 1965 as a two-seater coupé designed by iconic car designer Pininfarina. Produced for a short period of two years between 1966 and 1968, the 330 GTC quickly turned into a popular Ferrari for those seeking for a quieter and smoother ride. It has been stated that this "was probably the first Ferrari in which you could actually enjoy a radio". This fascinating Ferrari 330 GTC of which only 598 cars were ever made is as mint and pristine as it gets, just like the discontinued Audemars Piguet Royal Oak ref. 15300ST on our wrist.
This 1967 Ferrari 330 GTC in one of our favorite colors the 'Nocciola Metallizzato' —metallic hazelnut– is a successor to the Ferrari 250GT and 275 GTS sharing the short wheelbase of the 275 as well as its independent rear suspension. Equipped with a 12-cylynder engine this 1967 Ferrari 330 GTC is one of the most iconic automobiles we have ever featured here.
Experience: Galleria Ferrari. The Museum of the 'Cavallino Rampante' in Maranello.
To commemorate the 25th anniversary of the death of Enzo Ferrari —August 14th, 1988— we decided to pull these pictures from our archives and present you a short overview of the magnificent Galleria Ferrari.
Ferrari was founded in 1929 by Enzo Ferrari but it was not until 1947 that the first street legal Ferraris where launched. The first Ferrari to hit the streets was the 125 Sport fitted with a V12 engine. Today, Ferrari automobiles are generally seen as a symbol of speed, luxury and wealth. A visit to the Galleria Ferrari is a must for any watchlifestyler that appreciates the fine making of Ferrari. Located at Dino Ferrari 43 in Maranello, just a stone’s throw away from the Ferrari factory, this place is true treat to the eyes and a place where history is well showcased
Experience: 1952 Hudson Hornet. Black and Cream Just like the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Safari.
The Hudson Hornet is an automobile that was produced by the Hudson Motor Car Company of Detroit for three years between 1951 and 1954 and then produced between 1955 and 1957 by the now long gone American Motors Corporation —AMC. In case you don't know who AMC was, they were the company behind two of the ugliest cars ever built in the seventies, the Pacer and the Gremlin.
Last Saturday, we stumbled upon this beautiful 1952 Hudson Hornet during a rainy afternoon in Dallas, Texas. As we were driving by the affluent Preston Hollow area, this gorgeous automobile caught our eye and brought us back in time to 1963 when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas. During the late 50s and early 60s many police departments throughout the U.S. —including the Dallas Police Department— stocked Hudson Hornets as their police cars.
Experience: Aston Martin Rapide S and a Jaeger-LeCoultre AMVOX2 DBS Transponder.
Combining an instantly recognizable design with exceptional technology, the Aston Martin Rapide S embodies all that is great about Aston Martin, just like the Jaeger-LeCoultre AMOVX2 DBS Transponder. A watch that can be used to open or close your Aston Martin while pressing on the crystal at 9 and 3 o'clock respectively. The Aston Martin Rapide S is an automobile where power is not compromised by the level of luxury you get. The Rapide S is agile, balanced and controlled. A near perfect 48:52 front/rear weight distribution means Rapide S is unique, a true sports car with four-doors allowing four passengers to experience the power and the comfort of this unique machine.
Experience: DeLorean DMC-12 with a Stainless Steel Satin Brushed Body Just as Good as that on an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak.
If you were a tween or a teenager in the early 80s, you probably dreamed of owning a DeLorean and feeling just like Marty McFly while traveling in time in the 1985 blockbuster movie 'Back to the Future' directed by Robert Zemeckis. The DeLorean DMC-12 by DeLorean Motor Company marked an era like very few other automobiles had and remained engrained in our minds like one of those dreams that you want to dream over and over again. With its futuristic design, fitted with a stainless steel satin brushed finish body —fiberglass underneath— and its iconic gull-wing doors, the DeLorean broke the rules of car design, but unlike the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, DMC didn't master the rules before breaking them. The DeLorean DMC-12 was manufactured only for a very brief period of time by John DeLorean's DeLorean Motor Company between 1981 and 1982 in a small town southwest of Belfast in Northern Ireland. Now, one thing that can be comparable between the DeLorean DMC-12 and the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak is the satin brushed finish on their stainless steel.
News: A. Lange & Söhne Sponsors the 'Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este'. A Special Unique Piece of the Lange 1 Time Zone was Created for the Competition.
With the glamour of the 20s, this will be the third time that A. Lange & Söhne supports the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este. In 2014, this exclusive competition of classic cars and visionary concept designs will evoke the atmosphere of “The Roaring Twenties”. The owner of the most elegant car will win a unique timepiece from A. Lange & Söhne. The 85th edition of the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este will be held in Cernobbio, Italy from May 23rd thru 25th, 2014. A. Lange & Söhne takes the stage as sponsor of this traditional competition that celebrates the motor car as design icon and art object. The theme of this year’s event, “The Great Gatsby”, promises to conjure up the glittering atmosphere of the “Roaring Twenties”, setting the scene in front of the impressive backdrop of the Grand Hotel Villa d’Este and its landscaped grounds on the shores of Lake Como. The lavish aesthetics underlying the Hollywood film versions of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s celebrated 1925 novel constitute the basis for the supporting events and the choice of vehicles. The programme will be rounded off by a special exhibition to mark the 110th anniversary of the Rolls-Royce brand and the “100 years of Maserati” jubilee.
In the view of A. Lange & Söhne CEO Wilhelm Schmid, the Concorso d’Eleganza represents a logical complement to the brand’s commitment to the cultural field and he mentions: "Both the automobile sector and fine watchmaking have marked historically important milestones in the development of technology and design that creates interesting cross-connections which make this event so attracive to our customers". A. Lange & Söhne has created an individual special model of the Lange 1 Time Zone for the competition. Its hand-engraved case back in white gold displays the competition's coat of arms.
On the city ring of this time-zone watch, central European time is represented by the town of Como. Wilhelm Schmid will present this unique watch to the winner of the 'Best of Show' category at the award ceremony on May 25th, 2014.
For more info on A. Lange & Söhne click here.
Experience: Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale. This Year's Special Car at Baselworld 2014.
Last year we presented you a beautiful Rolls Royce Phantom that was our car highlight during Baselworld 2013. This year at Baselworld 2014, we were greeted by a special Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale that was parked right outside the media center. This particular Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale’s refined design is the ideal synthesis of aerodynamics and style: the marque’s distinctive radiator grille between the two front light units, is topped by a carbon fiber engine hood with its aggressive central air intake and two side air vents, derived from those used on the race-track GranTurismo MC Trofeo. Although conceived as a road car, the GranTurismo MC Stradale is as exciting and powerful as a racing car, all thanks to its powerful flat 4.7 liter V8 engine with 460hp at 7,000 rpm.
While the GranTurismo offers five electronic handling modes, the MC Stradale has three: Auto, Sport and the exclusive “MC Race”. This setup is unique to this model, and is activated by pressing the “Race” button on the dashboard. This is all it takes to make the car even more aggressive and sporty, and the six-speed gearbox allows lightning-fast gear shifts in just 60 milliseconds. The setting of the MC Stradale’s suspensions is 10 mm lower and they have been conceived and developed with the aid of racetrack technology. The springs and dampers have been stiffened to restrict lateral load transfers, while the stabilizer bar diameter has been increased from 24 to 25 mm at the front and from 21 to 23 mm at the rear to reduce the roll angle and gradient and optimize handling. Subjected to the most severe testing on the most famous circuits, the Brembo braking system with carbon-ceramic discs weighs around 60% less than the traditional system with steel discs. The front is equipped with 380 x 34 mm ventilated discs, operated by a powerful six-piston caliper. The rear disks measure 360 x 32 mm, with a four-piston caliper. The stopping distance is just 33 meters at 100 km/h, with an average deceleration of 1.2 g.
The unmistakable roar that emerges from the exhaust tailpipes makes this engine’s thrust and elasticity felt at once, while its throaty baritone is underlined by the permanent opening of the by-pass valves in Race mode. On the rear the tailpipes and the carbon fiber trunk spoiler are the perfect combination for a super car and a racing machine like this.
While retaining all the characteristics of a fast, powerful, lightweight “street legal” racing car in its genes, the new GranTurismo MC Stradale delivers the same levels of comfort and spaciousness as the other models in the GranTurismo range: for the first time, a restyled four-seater interior is combined with the racing-derived exquisite aerodynamic lines and high-tech solutions. The new racing-style seats with integral headrest are designed to offer the best driving position and a high level of lateral restraint, together with unbeatable comfort. Soft Poltrona Frau leather is combined with a central section with a special Alcantara finish, designed to set the pulses racing. Fine stitching around the edges of the backrest highlights the exquisite craftsmanship of the seats. To convey the unmistakable “feel” of a racing-car interior, lavish use of Alcantara is extended to a wide variety of zones, from the central console to the doors and the instrument panel brow, all with exquisite ornamental stitching. The racing connotations are also emphasized by the Nero Soft finish used on the trims, including the special bezel underneath the front seat headrests.
Sticker Price $153,000 USD. For more info on Maserati click here.
Experience: Sebastian Vettel's Infiniti Red Bull Racing Formula One Car. Big Changes Taking Place During 2014's Formula One Season.
As we prepare for the 2014 Formula One season to kick-off in two weeks with the Australian Grand Prix on March 14th thru the 16th, we decided to bring you these up close and personal images of Sebastian Vettel's Infiniti Red Bull Racing Formula One car. As you all know, Sebastian Vettel is the current Formula One champion and champion for four years in a row since 2010. In his first year driving for Red Bull in 2009, Vettel finished the season as the youngest-ever World Drivers' championship runner-up and in 2010, he went on to become the youngest driver to ever win the World Drivers' Championship. That same same year, he helped Red Bull win the team's first World Constructors' Championship. Today, he is the youngest triple and quadruple champion that has ever existed in Formula One.
The Infiniti Red Bull Racing F1 car, just like all other Formula One cars, is tightly controlled by the regulations of the FIA in terms of technical specifications and car dimensions. These amazing racing machines cannot be wider than 1.80 meters —70.86"—, longer than 4.63 meters —15' 2"—, taller than 95cm —3' 1"— and the bodywork between the front and rear wheels must not exceed 1.40 meters —4' 7"— in width. As a result of these strict regulations, most constructors will end up with similarly sized cars.
With the exception of the rear wing, moveable bodywork is not allowed. Furthermore, any system, device or procedure which uses driver movement as a means of altering the aerodynamic characteristics of the car's bodywork is prohibited. Formula One cars may be equipped with moveable rear wings which allow the driver to control the wing's angle of incidence —within certain specified limits— from the cockpit with a system widely known as DRS —Drag Reduction System. However, during the race, the system is electronically governed and is only available when a driver is less than one second behind another car and going by the DRS detection point at pre-determined areas on the track. In order to use the DRS when available, the driver is alerted via a dashboard light. Once used, the DRS system is deactivated when the driver brakes and the rear wing flap returns to its original position.
Certain sections of bodywork, such as the front wing end plates, are required to be thick enough to prevent tire damage to other cars. Any bodywork that flexes excessively, could in theory be used to gain an aerodynamic advantage. Therefore, specific sections of the bodywork, such as the front wing, must be sufficiently rigid to pass the FIA’s ever more stringent deflection tests.
The construction of Formula One cars and the materials used are also strictly controlled by the FIA regulations in order to maximize the safety of the cars and the drivers. The main structure of the car comprises a safety cell which contains the cockpit plus the flexible fuel cell, which is housed immediately behind —but separated from— the driver. This safety cell must meet minimum size requirements and must have an impact-absorbing structure immediately in front of it. The design of the car must also include an additional impact-absorbing structure at the rear, behind the gearbox, and on the flanks of the car. The car must have two roll structures to protect the driver in the event of the car overturning. One must be immediately behind the driver’s head, the other at the front of the cockpit, immediately ahead of the steering wheel. The car and its survival cell must pass several strict impact, roll and static load tests before the car is allowed to take to the track.
The size of a Formula One car’s cockpit opening must also comply with strict specifications. Compliance with these specifications is tested by lowering a specially made template into the cockpit. In addition to this, the cockpit must meet numerous other requirements. A driver must be able to get in and out of the car without removing anything other than its steering wheel. Once strapped into the car with all his safety gear on, the driver must be able to remove the steering wheel and get out within five seconds, and then replace the steering within a further five seconds.
When it comes to the engine power of an F1 car, up until 2013 —some big changes will be taking place this season—, a Formula One car’s power unit consisted of a 2.4-litre normally-aspirated V8 engines outputting more than 750bhp and a gearbox with seven forward ratios. Also up until 2013, the teams were allowed unlimited fuel consumption with an average of 160 kilos of fuel per race with two exhaust tail pipes.
A team of specially appointed scrutineers has the power to check cars at any point during a Grand Prix weekend to ensure that they fully comply with technical and safety regulations. Every car is initially examined on the Thursday of a race meeting —Wednesday for Monaco's Grand Prix— and a car cannot take part in the event until it has passed scrutineering. A car must be re-examined by scrutineers if any significant changes are made to it by the team or if it is involved in an accident. In addition to scrutineering, cars are also weighed during the Grand Prix weekend to ensure that they comply with the minimum weight of 642 kilograms —1,415.37 pounds. Cars taking part in Q1 and Q2 are called in at random to be weighed, while all cars participating in Q3 are weighed after the session. Classified finishers are weighed again after the race. Any competitor failing to meet the minimum weight may lose their qualifying times or be excluded from the race results unless this is due to the accidental loss of part of the car.
Watchlifestylers get ready for one of the most exciting Formula One seasons in the last decade as in two more weeks we'll get to see some very exciting changes that will be taking place during 2014's Formula One season, these changes are perhaps the biggest changes we've seen in F1 racing in a very long time.
This upcoming season the cars will be fitted with V6 engines instead of V8s. The new regulations allow for a 1.6-litre turbocharged V6 engine which operates in conjunction with an Energy Recovery System referred to as ERS. The ERS provides an additional 160bhp for 33 seconds per lap. For safety, each car is fitted with ERS status lights which warn marshals and mechanics of the car’s electrical safety status when it is stopped or in the pits. If the car is safe, the lights —situated on the roll hoop and the rear tail lamp— will glow green; if not, they glow red. The lights must remain on for 15 minutes after the power unit has been switched off. The engine must have six cylinders in a 90-degree formation, with two inlet and two exhaust valves per cylinder and a single turbocharger. They are rev-limited to 15,000rpm, have a fuel flow limit of 100 kilograms/hour and produce around 600bhp. They must also have a single tailpipe exhaust.
The gearboxes will now have eight forward ratios which each team must nominate ahead of the season, to compensate for the extra power being generated under braking by ERS, the teams are allowed to use an electronic rear brake control system.
To compensate for the increased weight of the 2014 powertrain, minimum weight has been increased from the current 642kg to 690kg.
For safety reasons the height of noses has been reduced for 2014 to a maximum height of 185mm instead of 550mm. Front wings will be a little narrower from 1800mm to 1650mm. The rear wing will also look a little different for 2014. The previously-legal lower beam wing has been outlawed and the main flap has become slightly shallower in profile. Support pillars, however, are allowed. The DRS slot is also bigger than in 2013.
This year in-season testing returns for 2014, albeit in a restricted format with the regulations allowing four tests of no more than two consecutive days at circuits where an event has taken place. There are also increased restrictions on windtunnel testing and CFD simulations. Double drivers’ and constructors’ points will be awarded at the final race of the Formula One season —Abu Dhabi for 2014 instead of the traditional Interlagos Brazil last race— in order to maximize focus on the championship until the end of the campaign.
Drivers will be asked to choose their race number, between 2 and 99, for the duration of their career in the FIA Formula One World Championship. Number 1 will be reserved for the current world champion, should he choose to use it. If more than one driver chooses the same number, priority will be given to the driver who finished highest in the previous year’s championship. The driver number must be clearly visible on the front of the car and on the driver's crash helmet.
Also in this 2014 season, race stewards will have the option to hand out five-second penalties for minor infringements. Any driver who earns 12 penalty points during a 12-month period will be given a one-race ban.
Lastly there will be a pole position trophy that will be awarded to the driver who scores the most pole positions during the season. In the event of a tie, the trophy will be awarded to the driver who holds the greatest number of second places. If there is still a tie, the greatest number of third places will be taken into account and so on until a winner emerges.
For more info on Infiniti Red Bull Racing click here.
Experience: The Chicago Auto Show. The Largest Auto Show in North America.
A few days ago, we attended the Chicago Auto Show. First staged in 1901, the Chicago Auto Show is the largest auto show in North America and has been held more times than any other auto exposition on the continent. This year marks the 106th edition of this show and we are quite pleased with what we saw. The Chicago Auto Show utilizes more than 1 million square feet in the North and South Exhibit Halls of the McCormick Place convention center. At the show we witnessed multiple global and North American new car launches; a complete range of domestic and imported passenger cars and trucks; sport utility vehicles; and experimental or concept cars. With a 1,000 different vehicles on display as well as numerous accessories and auto-related exhibits, racing competition vehicles and project, antique and collector cars, the Chicago Auto Show was a threat for the eyes. On the wrist an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Safari ref. 26170ST.OO.D091CR.01 was our companion and our shirt even matched the so many blue cars that were on display including the Porsche 911 you can see below.
Some of the new automobiles that were showcased at the show and that we were eager to experience include the new Porsche Macan, the new Rolls-Royce Wraith with 624 hp and a price tag of $364,125 USD, the new Maserati GranTurismo, the new entry level Maserati Ghibli priced right at $66,900 USD, the uncleaned SRT that finished 3rd at the Rolex 24 at Daytona, the new Jaguar F-Type starting at $65,000 USD, the new BMW M4 Coupé and the 2015 M3, the new BMW 2 Series, the fully electric BMW I8 and I3, the F1 Infiniti Red Bull Racing Car driven by Sebastian Vettel, the new Mercedes-Benz CLA, the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT 'Gullwing', one of the Mazda SKYACTIV Mazda6 prototypes from the 2014 TUDOR United SportsCar Championship, an iconic 1963 Corvette Stingray and even a very interesting Honda FCEV concept car. Now, enjoy the images.
For more info on the Chicago Auto Show click here.
Experience: Fabian Oefner Presents Exploding Cars Images at the MB&F M.A.D. Gallery in Geneva. Just Amazing.
The MB&F M.A.D. Gallery is delighted to present a series of prints by Swiss artist Fabian Oefner. Fabian has carved out his reputation by fusing the fields of art and science, creating images appealing to heart and mind. He is constantly on the lookout for capturing life moments that are invisible to the human eye: phenomena like sound waves, centripetal forces, iridescence, fire and even magnetic ferrofluids, among others. The artworks on display at the M.A.D. Gallery from Fabian’s series are mind-boggling.
The three images of the Disintegrating series are exploded views of classic sports cars that Fabian has painstakingly created by deconstructing vintage roadster scale-models, photographing each component, piece by piece in a very specific position, to create the illusion of an exploding automobile. The images show exploded views of classic sports cars: intricate scale models of an eye-wateringly beautiful Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé with gullwing doors from 1954; an iconic sleek, black Jaguar E-Type from 1961; and a curvaceous sensual Ferrari 330 P4 from 1967.
The three other images on exhibition form his Hatch series, which explores the theme ‘the birth of a car’. Inspired by a picture of a hatching chick, Fabian decided to show a manufactured object being born just like a living organism – in this case a Ferrari 250 GTO breaking out of its shell, to create a witty high-octane take on the beginning of life. While both series feature cars, they both also involve fooling the observer into seeing the images as computer-generated renderings rather than the real photographs that they are. Fabian says: “I have always been fascinated by the clean, crisp looks of 3D renderings. So I tried to use that certain type of aesthetic and combine it with the strength of real photography. These images are also about capturing time: either in stopping it as in the Hatch series or inventing it as in the Disintegrating series.” Fabian started by making a latex mold from the model car, which was then filled with a thin layer of gypsum to create the shell. Several dozens of these shells were made in order to complete the next step: smashing the shell onto the car to create the illusion of the vehicle breaking out. This step had to be repeated a great many times until the desired results were achieved.
Fabian Oefner explains that photography usually captures moments in time; but his Disintegrating series is all about inventing a moment in time. “What you see in these images, is a moment that never existed in real life,” says Oefner. “What looks like a car falling apart is in fact a moment in time that has been created artificially by blending hundreds of individual images together. There is a unique pleasure about artificially building a moment…freezing a moment in time is stupefying.” Fabian first sketched on paper where the individual pieces would go, before taking apart the model cars piece by piece, from the body shell right down to the minuscule screws. Each car contained over a thousand components.
Then, according to his initial sketch, he placed each piece individually with the aid of fine needles and pieces of string. After meticulously working out the angle of each shot and establishing the right lighting, he photographed the component, and took thousands of photographs to create each Disintegrating image.
All these individual photos were then blended together in post-production to create one single image. With the wheels acting as a reference point, each part was masked in Photoshop, cut and then pasted into the final image. “These are possibly the ‘slowest high-speed’ images ever captured,” says Fabian. “It took almost two months to create an image that looks as if it was captured in a fraction of a second. The whole disassembly in itself took more than a day for each car due to the complexity of the models. But that’s a bit of a boy thing. There’s an enjoyment in the analysis, discovering something by taking it apart, like peeling an onion.” However, he adds: “The hardest part was actually setting up the camera, lens and light, because the biggest frustration is when you can't get any beautiful image out of it!”
With Hatch, Fabian Oefner presents his interpretation of how cars might be ‘born’. The first two images show a Ferrari 250 GTO from 1962 – again a detailed scale model – breaking out of its shell. The third image shows one of the empty shells left behind among several others yet to hatch. To capture the very moment where the shell hit the model, Fabian connected a microphone to his camera, a Hasselblad H4D, and flashes, so that every time the shell hit the surface of the car, the impulse was picked up by the microphone which then triggered the flashes and the camera shutter.
Representing a car as a living, breathing organism that has been gestated is a neat twist on car conception; it could be said Hatch is to the automotive world what a stork is to delivering babies.
Fabian Oefner was born in Switzerland in 1984. Coming from a family with an artistic background, he attended art school and gained a degree in product design. At the age of 14, Fabian discovered Harold Edgerton’s photo of a bullet piercing an apple, and this prompted him to get his first camera. “I have always experimented with all different kinds of art forms at a very early stage,” he says. “Photography turned out to be the form of art that I was most interested in.” Fabian has gone on to blend art with science: beautifully photographing ‘nebulae’ formed in a fiber glass lamp and feathery or cotton candy-like puffs made by bursting balloons filled with corn starch. He has shot crystals of color rising in reaction to a speaker's sound waves; spectacularly captured the patterns created by magnetic ferrofluids pushing paint into canals and he has taken color-crazy photos of paint modeled by centripetal forces. “I am trying to show these phenomena in an unseen and poetic way,” he pauses, “and therefore make the viewer pause for a moment and appreciate the magic that constantly surrounds us. I am inspired and influenced by the world that is around me. I have a deep interest in all kinds of fields of science. When I start with a new subject I rarely know how the final images will look. After experimenting with it, I start to get a feeling for it and after a while an idea for images develops.”
Fabian has a photographic studio in Aarau, 40 minutes away from Zurich in Switzerland. His work has only been sold through direct private sales around the globe. He has worked on assignments for big international brands, on ad campaigns and art projects, including a number of free projects, available to view on 500px.com. Fabian recently demonstrated his ideas and artwork during a TED Talk, as part of the non-profit’s initiative devoted to ideas worth spreading. His reputation has been growing steadily for the past two years. Check the amazing video at the bottom of the post showing exactly how these images were created.
Fabian Oefner’s artwork will be on show at the M.A.D. Gallery in Geneva until May 2014.
For more info on Oefner click here and for MB&F and the M.A.D. Gallery here.
MB&F M.A.D.Gallery
Rue Verdaine 11
1204 Geneva
Switzerland
Experience: Aston Martin V8 Vantage. Along with a Perfect Matching Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Scuba Blue Boutique Edition.
Our close friend and watchlifestyler Riley was taking his Aston Martin V8 Vantage for a ride when he realized that the blue flange on his Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Scuba Blue Boutique Edition ref. 15701ST.OO.D002CA.02 was an exact match to the color of his fancy automobile. Therefore, he decided to snap a few shots for us. Just like the Royal Oak Offshore continues to go through constant engineering and advancement, the Aston Martin Vantage has gone through 10 years of upgrades and engineering to be the high-performance iconic sports car it is today.
Combining an instantly recognizable design with exceptional technology, the Aston Martin V8 Vantage embodies all that is great about Aston Martin, just like the Scuba on the hood. Powered by a lightweight and compact 4.7 liter engine, the V8 Vantage outputs 420 hp and gets you from 0-60mph in just 4.9 seconds. Not bad for such a large automobile.
Opposed to what most people think, the interior of the V8 Vantage is very cozy and comfortable, not necessary what you expect from supercars or sportscars like this. The finest materials are used to create a driver and passenger environment of exquisite finesse, all created by expert craftsman. With hundreds of unique color and finish combinations available and a range of personalized options the V8 Vantage can be purchased exactly how you want it.
History, exclusivity, refinement and sportiness are the words that come to mind when getting into one of these cars for a ride. Interestingly enough, these are the same four words that come to mind when strapping an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Scuba Blue Boutique Edition to the wrist. For those of you wondering, the Scuba is quite rare as only 300 pieces of the blue edition were ever made. While the Aston Martin V8 Vantage is definitely not as rare, it is an automobile that you don't see as often on the streets.
These last shots will make you feel like you are on the wheel wearing the Scuba and taking those tight corners as fast as you can. If you can still find an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Scuba Blue Boutique Edition get it, just make sure you add an Aston Martin like this to match the blue flange on your timepiece —at the end of the day we watchlifestylers like to do crazy things like that when it comes to getting matching stuff to go with our watches and not the other way around.
For more info on Aston Martin click here and on Audemars Piguet here.
Experience: Porsche 911 50th Anniversary Edition. Reminiscent of the Past Just Like the Tudor Heritage Black Bay On Our Wrist.
Sometimes it's all about being at the right place at the right time, just like it happened to us yesterday. As we were waiting to get our Porsche ready for the winter with its mandatory winter tires, one of the first Porsche 911 50th Anniversary Edition automobiles to arrive in the U.S. made its way into the Porsche workshop in order to get unwrapped and prepped for the showroom. Lucky enough, we were able to take plenty of pictures of this fascinating machine just for you. If you are a Porsche enthusiast just like us, then, this will be a real treat for the eyes. Interestingly enough, the Tudor Heritage Black Bay was on our wrist, which is a watch that captures the essence of the first Tudor Submariner from 1954 and was revived almost 50 years later. Just like the Tudor, this limited edition Porsche captures the essence —in so many ways— of the first 911 launched in 1963 and here it is 50 years later. Two classics, properly honored.
For five decades, the Porsche 911 has been the heart of the Porsche brand. Few other automobiles in the world can look back on such a long tradition and such continuity as the Porsche 911. It has been inspiring car enthusiasts the world over since its debut as the model 901 at the IAA International Automotive Show in September 1963.
Photo from Porsche.com
Today, the Porsche 911 is considered the most legendary of all sports cars and the central point of reference for all other Porsche series. Over 820,000 Porsche 911s have been built, making it the most successful sports car in the world. This year Porsche celebrates the launch of this amazing automobile with a special anniversary model based on the 911 Carrera S: like the original 911, the 911 50th Anniversary Edition is a coupé with a flat-six rear engine and rear wheel drive. One great thing about this anniversary car is that it doesn't come with 130 hp like the first 911 from 1963 but with 430 hp, capable of going from 0 to 60 mph in mere 3.8 seconds —for the PDK equipped ones. Additionally, the anniversary 911 features a wide body typically reserved for the all-wheel drive Carrera 4 models. This special edition will be limited to 1963 cars, a number that represents the year of the 911 world premiere.
In order to further excel at commemorating the first 911, this 50th Anniversary Edition features several vintage inspired details perfectly executed under their very strict modern standards. The interior features a combination of gray or black leather with fabric —Pepita Houndstooth pattern— inserts for the seats, embroidered headrests with two-tone “911 50” lettering and an instrument panel with green numerals on the gauges and white hands in a nod like on the original 911. The exterior was as carefully designed as the interior and it features the quintessential two-tone 20-inch fuchs-style wheels and a very subtle chrome trim added to the front intakes, window surrounds and even to the rear deck louvers. This beautiful car is only available in three colors: Graphite Gray —pictured here—, Black Monochrome and Geyser Gray, which is really an eggshell creamy ivory color.
One design feature that we love about this car, is the perfectly executed red-silver logo that has been intelligently placed in different areas of the car such as on the back in between the tail lights, on the door-sill guards, embroidered on the headrests and on the dashboard right above the glove compartment where there is an individually numbered plate for each car. As usual, Porsche continues to impress with these impeccable design touches inside and outside the car.
Lastly, unlike all other newer Porsche keys that are all black, this one features painted sides in the exact same color as the body of the car. Another amazing classy and exclusive touch for those 1,963 prospective owners of this beauty. After enjoying the unwrapping of this car, we saw it drift away just like a yacht disappears over the horizon at sea. This exclusive Porsche starts at $124,100 USD; however, the one pictured here comes with a higher Sticker Price. Now, wouldn't you want to be one of the few lucky owners of this beauty?
Sticker Price $151,895 USD. For more info on Porsche click here.
Experience: McLaren Chicago Grand Opening Party. An Evening of Exotic Cars and Watches.
Last Thursday October 10, 2013 we were invited to an exclusive party at the new McLaren dealership here in Chicago. We were pleasantly surprised to see our friends from Geneva Seal at the event with a nice assortment of timepieces on display. Their showcases included timepieces from Bell & Ross, Urwerk, Custos, Franck Muller, Richard Mille, Audemars Piguet, Blancpain and Roger Dubuis amongst others. Some of the timepieces on display that caught our attention include a Roger Dubuis Double Tourbillon, an iced out Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore, an Urwerk UR-103 and a Richard Mille RM016. A great selection of Blancpain timepieces was also being displayed.
Our host Rob Mancuso —owner of McLaren Chicago DBA Mancuso Motorsports— was nothing but great and he made sure everyone had a fantastic time. Rob is an institution when it comes to exotic cars in Chicago and the Midwest region of the U.S. In addition to this fascinating McLaren dealership, the Mancusos are also owners of LFSC Motorsports —Lake Forest Sportscars— a must see dealership when it comes to racing cars, Aston Martins, Maseratis, Ferraris, Lotus, Bentleys and other fancies that you can think of.
In summary, this was a fascinating evening filled with watchlifestylers, good wine and food and two of our favorite things in the world in the same place, watches and cars. Could we've asked for anything more?
For more info on McLaren Chicago click here and for Lake Forest SportsCars here.
Insider: BMW Alpina B7. A Powerful and Elegant Sedan Like No Other.
Alpina Burkard Bovensiepen GmbH is an automobile manufacturing company based in Buchloe, in the Ostallgäu district of Bavaria, Germany selling their own cars, based on BMW cars. Alpina works closely with BMW and their processes are integrated into BMW's production lines. The Alpina B7 is produced at the same assembly line in Dingolfing, Germany, along with all other BMW 7-Series. Today, the only Alpina offered in the USA is the Alpina B7.
The BMW Alpina B7 is the most powerful and elegant sedan in its class. This car is based off of the 750i/750Li and is almost like what an M7-series
would be if it existed. Fitted with a twin-turbo 4.4-liter V-8 this sedan boasts 540 hp and 538 lb-ft of torque. The Alpina B7 has a sportier look when compared to the traditional 7-Series and is fitted with 21-inch wheels with Alpina’s signature 20-spoke design. This BMW is better equipped and way more elegant that its regular counterpart. The Alpina B7 is respected for its impressive power and desired for
its luxurious interior, just like the luxurious look of the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Jumbo ref. 5402 on our wrist.
Even though the Alpina B7 is a massive car that feels like a tank, it reaches 60 mph from a full stop in only 4.3 seconds. To complete its ultimate sporty look, this car is fitted with front and rear spoilers.
The interior is extremely luxurious featuring a combination of leather with 'alcantara' and a black glossy trim. The car is equipped with all the options that you can think of including a sunroof, the ability to check the speed on the windshield, a rear-view camera, sport driving mode, bluetooth and navigation amongst other features.
Its roomy interior with spectacular finishes will mesmerize you if you happen to buy one or ride in one. Additionally, a discreet CD changer is fitted under the airbag compartment on the passenger side and the car is equipped with powered privacy shades on the rear and passenger windows. The design of the door handles and every line of its interior is exquisite, modern and very sleek.
In the Alpina B7, you can be certain that those riding in the back will have no issues with space or leg room. Even in the short wheel-base model like this one, the leg room is excellent and rear passengers have the ability to control the A/C system with their own controls. Additionally, the back is fitted with a collapsible center arm rest with storage and cup holders.
If you are ready to ride in luxury without compromising power and performance, the Alpina B7 is the ideal car for you. Even though we are huge Porsche enthusiasts, we can tell you that this car drives way better than a Porsche Panamera.
Sticker Price starts at $128,495 USD for the short-wheelbase and at $132,395 for the long-wheelbase. For more info on the BMW Alpina B7 click here.
